Handling and shipping apparatus



Feb. 17, 1931. J. J. STEINHARTER 1,792,715

HANDLING AND SHIPPING APPARATUS Filed May 5, 1928 Patented Feb. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE JOSEPH J. STEINHARTER, OF NEW YORK, N; Y.', ASSIGNOR,VBY DIRECT A D MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'ro CABLE RADIO TUBE CORPORATION, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK,

A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE HANDLING AND SHIPB ING APPARATUS Application filed. May 3,

This invention relates to shipping containers, and particularly to containers for housing articles that are extremely fragile, such as neon: lamps.

The invention aims to provide a structure in which the lamp is mounted on resilient support which is carried in such a way that the lamp is spaced a satedistance from the sides of the container. I

A further object resides in the provision of a frame chassis member on which the lamp is resiliently secured, and which can be handled in packing, unpacking, and preparing the lamp for its permanent mounting without actually touching the lamp itself.

While preferred forms of the invention have been et forth for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the structure without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereirafter set forth unu claimed.

In the drawings: 7 1

Fig. l is a section on line 11of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a container embodying the invention. I V

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the chassis.

Fig. 4 is a perspective with parts broken away of a container adapted to hold a plurality of tubes.

Referring to the drawings more particularly, the reference numeral 10 indicates the frame, or chassis, to which the lamp is attached. This frame may be formed in any suitable manner to obtain the necessary strength and lightness, as by joining together pieces of Wood. The supports 11, which cross the frame and carry the lamp, are composed of some elastic material, such as rubber. A plurality of these supports cross the chassis in each direction, and they are anchored against slipping along the sides of the chassis in any convenient manner, as by engagement with the notches 13. A plurality of these notches are formed in each side of V he frame so that the spacing of the supports 1928. Serial NO; 274,692.

into certain letters itmayv be advisable to v chan 'e the s acin of certain of the su orts 11in order to provide sufiicient contact for the lamp, but it will be clear that the plurality of adjustable supports 11 provides adequate attachment for a lamp or" any shape.

The container proper isa box 15 formed of corrugated paper or any other material, formed of such a size that the chassis 1O fits snugly therein. When a single lamp is packed in each box thearrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is used.

In this case the chassis is held. away from the bottom of the box by spacers 16,.Which may be separate pieces of any light material secured to opposite sides of the box or they may be parts or" a continuous spacer extending around the box. After the spacers 16 have been positioned the chassis carrying the lamp is placed'thereon and the top spacers 17 are then secured in the box. The spacers 17 may be of similar construction to spacers 16. The top of the box is closed by flaps or lids ports the lamp in such a position that it is spaced from all sides of the container a sufiicient distance to prevent its contacting with the container underany of the shocks incident to transportation.

Figure 4: shows how a plurality of the tubes may be packed in a single large container. For this purpose the spacers 16 are put against one end of the box 18, a chassis carrying a tubev is then placed against spacer 16 in a vertical position, and spacers 17 are placed on the opposite side of the chassis. A second loaded chassis is next moved into position followed by a second set of spacers 17 In a similar manner any number of the lamps may be packed in a container of suitable size and construction.

When the tubes are being unpacked by the U .tube may be allowed to remain on the chassis, thereby preventing direct handling of the tube until everything is ready for the permanent installation.

A person skilled in the art will readily understand the advantages of the present in vention in eliminating the usual high percentage of breakage in the shipping and handling of delicate articles such as neon lamps.

I claim:

1. An article supporting device consisting of a substantially rigid frame, and intersecting endless elastic bands embracing said frame said bands being of rubber thin enough and having suiiicient stretch to yield readily to the Weight of an article secured thereto.

2. [in article supporting device consisting of a substantially rigid frame having oppositely disposed adjustment notches, and endless elastic bands embracing the frame and engaging in said notches said bands being of rubber thin enough and having suiiicient stretch to yield readily to the Weight of an article secured thereto.

3. An article supporting device consisting of a substantially rigid frame having parallel sides provided with series of adjustment notches, and endless elastic bands embracing said frame and engaging in selected notches said bands being of rubber thin enough and having sui'iicient stretch to yield readily to the weight of an article secured thereto.

4. An article supporting device consisting of a rectangular frame having peripheral adjustment notches arranged in opposed series on the sides of the frame endless elastic bands encircling the frame in one direction and engaging selected notches of tWo of the frame sides and other endless elastic bands encircling the frame substantially at right angles to the first bands and engaging selected notches in the remaining sides said bands being of rubber thin enough and having suflicient stretch to yield readily to the Weight of an article secured thereto.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOSEPH J. STEINHARTER. 

